High cost, Low reward
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7/26/2016
I've lived in Colorado my entire life. I never figured I'd have a reason to want to move. But, now I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to afford to stay. When I moved out of my parent's house (at 18), I was paying $650 for rent. My rent is now more than $1300 (double) for the same sq feet, and I was forced to move away from the center of the city. The price of food (I'm talking simple staples) has more than doubled. Hell, eggs have tripled in price since then.
This is large in part to the new marijuana industry. We've seen a huge influx of people, and most of them have come for the weed. Several of my neighbors are just such immigrants (the entitled, hipster variety). They live perpetually on the government's dime. They have their rent and food subsidized, and get paid cash under the table. Most of them seem to spend all that untaxed cash on weed.
Most of these newcomers do nothing to help society, and are rewarded with free rides. I just don't understand it, when I'm working my ass off to make ends meet. Maybe I'm not cut out for Denver anymore. Maybe if you aren't willing to cheat the system and smoke weed every day, then Denver is no longer for you.
I'm being priced out of my home, and it sucks. But maybe I have to find a new home.
Jesse | Denver, CO